Australians Rinky Hijikata and Alexei Popyrin complete successful qualifying campaigns at an ATP 500 grass-court tournament in London.
London, Great Britain, 17 June 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Queen’s Club, Great Britain
Rinky Hijikata and Alexei Popyrin have boosted the number of Australians in the men’s singles draw at an ATP 500 tournament in London this week to four.
Hijikata secured his spot in the main-draw at the prestigious grass-court event with a 7-5 6-3 victory against world No.67 Arthur Rinderknech in the final qualifying round.
This is 23-year-old Hijikata’s biggest grass-court win and sets up a first-round meeting with American Frances Tiafoe.
Alexei Popyrin scored two wins in a day to qualify, with the top-seeded Australian powering past both Finland’s Otto Virtanen and American Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets.
The world No.49 now faces British favourite Andy Murray, a five-time champion at the tournament, in the opening round.
Hijikata and Popyrin join compatriots Alex de Minaur, a finalist at Queen’s Club last year, and Jordan Thompson in the main draw.
Aussies in action – Queen’s Club
RESULTS
Men’s qualifying singles, first round
[1] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) d [Alt] Otto Virtanen (FIN) 6-4 6-4
[2] Giovanni Mpetschi Perricard (FRA) d Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 6-3 3-6 6-3
Men’s qualifying singles, final round
[1] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) d [5] Mackenzie McDonald (USA) 6-3 6-4
[7] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) d [3] Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) 7-5 6-3
Taro Daniel (JPN) d Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) walkover
COMING UP
Men’s singles, first round
[2] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Lorenzo Musetti (ITA)
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [7] Holger Rune (DEN)
[Q] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v Frances Tiafoe (USA)
[Q] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [WC] Andy Murray (GBR)
Men’s qualifying doubles, first round
[1] John Peers (AUS)/Jordan Thompson (AUS) v Julian Cash (GBR)/Robert Galloway (USA)
[WC] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Henry Patten (GBR) v [2] Alexander Erler (AUT)/Lucas Miedler (AUT)
Men’s doubles, first round
[1] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) v Qualifier
Alex de Minaur (AUS)/Sebastian Korda (USA) v [2] Rajeev Ram (USA)/Joe Salisbury (GBR)
Halle, Germany
Two Australians – James Duckworth and Max Purcell – have qualified at an ATP 500 grass-court tournament in Halle.
The 32-year-old Duckworth scored an impressive 6-1 7-6(5) victory against world No.56 Corentin Moutet in the final qualifying round. This sets up a first-round meeting with 17-year-old…
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